CAREER SEMINAR

Econ 292

Course Administration

Fall 2009

I. General Course Information

Credits: 1

Meeting Time: W 12

Location: 1227 Hoover

II. Instructors

Ron Deiter Mike Gaul, Director

174 Heady Ag Career Services Office

294-5436 141 Curtiss Hall

e-mail: rdeiter@iastate.edu 294-4725

Office Hours: MTWRF 10, TR 1 e-mail: mikegaul@iastate.edu

III. Course Goals and Objectives

1. To inform students about the different types of job opportunities available for Ag Business graduates.

2. To provide students with information that will assist them in finding and obtaining offers for employment either before or after graduation.

3. To prepare students for responsibilities and expectations related to employment following graduation.

IV. Textbook

A textbook is not required for this course. However, reading assigned readings in course handouts may be necessary to successfully complete at least some of the course assignments.

V. Grading

This course is graded on a satisfactory (S) or fail (F) basis. Students who satisfactorily complete all assignments and who have two or fewer unexcused absences will receive an S grade for the course. There are three assignments (see below) which each student will need to complete in order to pass the course.

VI. Assignments

1. Personal resume (due W 10/7).

Prepare your own personal resume that you would consider using in conjunction with an application for either an internship or a job position following graduation. You should have a fellow student in this class or a friend critique a draft copy including its neatness and spelling, organization and layout, content, and overall appearance before turning in your final copy.

2. Interviewing (due W 10/28).

Prepare responses (a maximum of one typewritten page per question) to the questions below that you could very likely be asked during a job interview.

a. ATell me about yourself.@

b. AWhat is the biggest mistake that you have ever made?@

c. ATell me about a time when you had to deal with a difficult person. How did you handle the situation?@

3. Letters (due W 11/19)

Prepare a cover/application letter for a specific job position, a thank you letter for either a campus interview or a company office visit, and an offer acceptance letter for a specific job position. These letters can deal with >hypothetical= situations (e.g. hypothetical jobs, hypothetical people, etc.). You should have a fellow student or friend review and critique your letters before they are turned in.

VII. Attendance

Attendance will be taken every day. Each student will be allowed two unexcused absences (note: the M Oct. 12 panel discussion event is considered a class activity). If you need to miss class more than twice during the semester, you will need to get prior permission from your instructor in order to still be able to pass the course.

VIII. Guests

Our class format on days when we have guests will be for us to interview them. You and your fellow students will be expected to ask questions along with your instructor.

IX. Course Home Page

A course home page on the web will be set up for this class. Copies of selected notes from the various >units= will be posted here. Go to ISU Economics, Academic Programs, and Fall 2009 classes.